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 NOAA Map Created by Congress in 1992 the Sanctuary is located at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, between Cape Cod and Cape Ann. It is known as an excellent whale watching site, and is home to many other species of marine life. Stellwagen Bank owes much of its existence to the last major ice age. 25,000 years ago, the Laurentide ice sheet advanced over the eastern United States, pushing in front of it large amounts of earth and rocks. The southern margin of the glaciers formed local geographical features including Cape Cod and Stellwagen Bank. Originally, the bank was above water, but gradually subsided over time as the post-glacial rebound subsided. From the 17th century onwards the area was known as a productive area for fishing and whaling. The shape of the bottom was unknown. In 1854, the US Navy sent Lieutenant Commander Henry Stellwagen to take soundings and map the area. Prior to Stellwagen's survey, it was believed there were two small banks in the area: one just to the north of Cape Cod, and one in the middle of the entrance to Massachusetts Bay. Stellwagen showed that they were part of one large bank. As a result, the Navy named the bank after him in 1855.* Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary *Wikipedia |